Pats’ Gronkowski has surgery for infection in arm

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski underwent surgery last week for an infection in the arm that was broken twice this past season, according to a report.

The infection was in its early stages and not expected to keep him from missing extended time in training camp, ESPN reported Wednesday.

Gronkowski broke his left forearm in a Nov. 18 game against Indianapolis. After missing five games, he returned for the final regular-season game against Miami but rebroke the arm in a Jan. 13 playoff game against Houston. The procedure to treat the infection was his third surgery on the arm.

The cast from the second break had come off earlier this month and Gronkowski was hoping to return to workouts, which now will be placed on hold while he again recovers.

In 11 games during the 2012 season, Gronkowski caught 55 passes for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns, giving him 187 receptions for 2,663 yards and 38 TDs in three NFL seasons.

Indians’ Brantley gets stitches on forearm

A tag play at third base proved painful for the Cleveland Indians’ Michael Brantley on Monday.

Brantley was spiked by Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson while sliding into third, and he wound up going to the hospital for stitches in his left forearm.

“His forearm was sliced up pretty good,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. “There’s a lot of spring left. It will be all right.”

Brantley hit a double, and he was attempting to go to third base when the ball got loose in the A’s outfield. Donaldson took the throw and was heading back to the bag when he spiked Brantley, the Beacon Journal reported.

The Indians won the exhibition game 14-10 in Phoenix.

Brantley, 25, is entering his fifth season with Cleveland. He hit .288 with a .348 on-base percentage, a .402 slugging percentage, six homers, 60 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 149 games last year.

Sharks’ Clowe suspended two games

San Jose Sharks forward Ryane Clowe has been suspended for two games, without pay, for leaving the bench on a legal line change and starting an altercation with Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw on Friday, the league announced Monday.

Clowe will forfeit $39,189.18.

Clowe was assessed a minor penalty for roughing and a game misconduct for leaving the bench on an illegal line change to start an altercation with 8.4 seconds left in regulation.

That infraction calls for an automatic 10-game suspension. However, after a review of the incident and a hearing on Monday, it was determined that Clowe entered the ice on a legal line change. Nonetheless, he skated directly to Shaw, who was not engaged physically with any other player. Clowe then grabbed Shaw and wrestled him to the ice.

Lakers’ Gasol likely out for rest of regular season

Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters that he does not expect forward/center Pau Gasol to play for the rest of the regular season.

Gasol has been out with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot since the Lakers played at the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 5. He was originally expected to be out at least six to eight weeks.

“I think by the time he gets back we’ll either be in or out,” D’Antoni said after Sunday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks. “So his impact will be in the playoffs if we can get there.”

The Lakers (28-29) are 2 1/2 games out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

Thunder signs veteran guard Fisher

There is room for Fisher on the Oklahoma City roster after the team traded guard Eric Maynor to the Portland Trail Blazers last week, although Reggie Jackson has been getting most of the backup point guard minutes behind starter Russell Westbrook.

Fisher started the season with the Dallas Mavericks but asked for his release in December after nine games so he could spend more time with his family in Los Angeles. He also had a minor knee injury at the time.

Fisher reported to the Thunder on Sunday after the two sides reached an agreement for the rest of the season.

The 38-year-old helped Oklahoma City down the stretch late last season, which resulted in an NBA Finals appearance against the Miami Heat. He had been bought out of his contract and became a free agent after the Los Angeles Lakers traded him to the Houston Rockets.

Fisher, who is also the NBA Players Association president, averaged 8.6 points and 3.6 assists for Dallas this season.

Minor league pitcher Hamburger suspended 50 games

Major League Baseball announced Monday that free agent minor league right-handed pitcher Mark Hamburger received a 50-game suspension without pay after violating the minor league drug prevention and treatment program for a drug of abuse a second time.

Hamburger’s suspension takes effect immediately upon his signing with another major league organization.

Hamburger pitched in eight innings for the Texas Rangers last year.

Blue Jays pick up first baseman Anderson

First baseman Lars Anderson was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.

Anderson, once a highly-touted prospect, is with his fourth team in six months.

The Chicago White Sox claimed Anderson off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Feb. 1 and designated him for assignment on Friday. He played for the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Diamondbacks last year.

Anderson, 25, is a .167 hitter in 48 major-league at-bats over three seasons.